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WhatsApp has finally rolled out its Ephemeral or disappearing messages feature. The feature was already available in some form or other in competitor apps like Telegram and Signal. The Facebook backed messaging platform is improving its features and trying to be more personal and secure.

What are disappearing messages and how do they work?

Ephemeral messages, as the name suggests, are those messages that will automatically get deleted after some time. WhatsApp has enabled a new feature in its app, under which the users can send messages in individual or group chats and these messages will disappear after seven days. The setting would not affect the previous messages sent or received by the user. In individual chats, either user could turn the disappearing messages feature on or off, while in group chats the privilege is extended only to the admins.

Why did WhatsApp include the disappearing messages feature?

According to WhatsApp, the feature will bring a new level of privacy to the popular messaging app. In Whatsapp’s own words, “When conversations aren’t permanent, people can speak more freely and feel more comfortable being their authentic selves, whether that be their wacky side or being more honest about their feelings. This is a huge step for WhatsApp as we introduce ephemerality to many people for the first time ever and help them experience a new level of privacy.”

How to turn on disappearing messages in WhatsApp?

One can take the following steps to enable or disable disappearing messages in WhatsApp.

iPhone or Android individual chat

  • Open individual chat
  • Tap on the contact name
  • Select the disappearing messages option
  • If prompted, tap continue
  • Select on or off to enable or disable the disappearing messages

Group chat

Only admins can enable or disable disappearing messages on a group chat.

  • Open the group chat
  • Tap on the group name
  • Select the disappearing messages option
  • If prompted, tap continue
  • Select on or off to enable or disable the disappearing messages

Web and desktop

To enable or disable disappearing messages on WhatsApp Web or Desktop apps

  • Open WhatsApp Web/App
  • Open the individual or group chat
  • Tap on the contact or group name at the top
  • Select the disappearing messages option
  • If prompted, tap continue
  • Select on or off to enable or disable the disappearing messages

How is WhatsApp’s disappearing message feature different?

The disappearing messages feature in WhatsApp is different from the one compared to other messaging apps. Competitor apps like Telegram, Wire, and Signal offer an option where the users can select their preferred time after which they would like the messages to disappear. The time can range from a few seconds to a few days.

For example, Telegram offers the users an option known as the secret chat under which the users can select a time limit after which the messages will disappear. Telegram allows the users to set the time limit from 1 second to 1 week. The limit for Wire is from 10 seconds to 4 weeks, while that for Signal users is from 5 seconds to 1 week.

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